Is obesity less dangerous than it was 40 years ago? This is attested by a new study carried out by scientists at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark) that suggests that the 30% risk of premature death associated with obesity in the 1970s has been reduced to zero.
The experts analyzed data from more than 100,000 people who revealed that between 1976 and 1978 the risk of premature death was higher in obese individuals than in those of normal weight. However, this trend has disappeared between the years 2003-2013. Follow-up of study participants ended in 2014.
“ The increased risk of all-cause mortality associated with obesity compared to normal weight decreased from 30% in 1976-78 to 0% in 2003-2013 . However, it is not a reason to support being overweight, ”says Shoaib Afzal, leader of the work.
The reason for this changes is unknown but these findings indicate the need to review the categories used to define overweight, according to the authors. “Importantly, our results should not be interpreted as a suggestion that people can now eat as much as they want or that normal-weight people should gain weight. Only, maybe overweight people don’t have to be as concerned about their weight as they used to, ”explains Afzal.
The study has been published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
